Follow these expert tricks the next time you have an eczema flare-up on your face.

By Anthea Levi
Updated May 24, 2017
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Eczema is a skin condition that can occur anywhere on the body, leading to itchy, red patches of skin that may become cracked or have blisters. The condition is frustrating wherever it occurs, whether on the arms, back, or hands. But eczema can be especially painful and debilitating when it appears on the face. Take it from social media star and fitness expert Carys Gray, who bravely shared a photo on Instagram last February to convey how serious an eczema flare-up on the face can be. Gray's photo showed a side-by-side comparison of her skin on a "normal" day versus how it looks in the middle of a bad flare.

"When my eczema isn’t under control, it’s very blotchy, sore, and I can’t wear any makeup," Gray told her followers. She added that she hoped her photo would act as a reminder that things aren't always what they seem on social media.

In a more recent post, the Instagram star shared another side-by-side photo of her face before and during an eczema flare.

"Eczema (or any insecurity) is such a small part of my life and I shouldn't allow it to control me," she wrote.

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of eczema, but experts believe environment and genetics both play a role. Something triggers the immune system and the result is that the protective barrier of the skin becomes dry, sensitive, and irritated. The problem isn't curable, but certain things can make the symptoms worse, whether an allergen such as dust, household products like soap or synthetic fibers, cold weather, or stress.

Experts say that soothing and concealing eczema on the face can be a challenge, since the skin on this area of the body is often very delicate.

"The most common areas for eczema on the face are the eyelids and the lips, given how thin and sensitive the skin is in these areas," explains Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University.

There are a few key ingredients in skincare and makeup products that people with eczema should look for. "Ceramides, which are part of the skin barrier, are a key component to treating eczema," says Amanda Doyle, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist.Dry skin lacks hydration, she explains, and ceramides help trap water in the skin, which may ease an eczema flare-up. You don’t need to spend a fortune on an eczema-friendly moisturizer; some of Dr. Doyle’s favorites include drugstore finds like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($12, target.com) andVaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion($6, target.com).

Use caution when applying makeup on an eczema rash on the face, since it can sometimes lead to further irritation. If you do decide to use makeup, choose a liquid foundation instead of oil-absorbing powders, which can exacerbate existing dryness. "The liquid is more moisturizing, so it can help to accelerate the healing process,” explains Dr. Khetarpal.

Dr. Doyle often recommends makeup from Clinique or bareMinerals for patients with eczema. "These [brands] tend to be a bit more friendly to eczema patients and those with sensitive skin who are looking for coverage,” she says.One product to try: bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum ($30; sephora.com), which contains SPF.

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If you experience an acute case of facial eczema, an over-the-counter topical steroid like 1% hydrocortisone may help relieve short-term itching and irritation. Just don’t use it for longer than two days, and always avoid contact with the eyelids, warns Dr. Doyle.

To protect against future facial flare-ups, skip soaps, moisturizers, and laundry detergents that contain fragrances. Dr. Doyle recommends Vanicream Cleansing Bar for Sensitive Skin ($4, walgreens.com), a mild, fragrance-free cleanser that’s ideal for people with sensitive skin.

The bottom line? "Less is more," says Dr. Doyle. "People often want to apply all kinds of things when they get these types of rashes on their face, but it’s really best to use minimal, gentle products that rehydrate the skin so it can heal itself."



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She used the pain and trauma of this skin condition as inspiration for a bold, sought-after look.

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Karishma Leckraz

Our series This Is Me is about being empowered to own who you are and defy any ridiculous societal expectations of beauty. We're not here to meet your standards, we're here to break them. Show us how beautiful you are! Tag us on Instagram: @healthmagazine #ThisIsMe

Karishma Leckraz's love of makeup runs deep. Growing up, she watched her mother put on makeup to get ready for work or for parties, and she knew she wanted to try it, too.

At 14, she began experimenting, and soon she was creating glam, ethereal looks on herself and others as a freelance makeup artist. She also happens to have eczema, a skin condition marked by chronic, itchy rashes. At the time, her eczema was only prominent on her arms and legs, and it didn't bother her much.

But when she was 16, her flare-ups appeared on her face. "I worried I'd never be able to wear makeup again," Leckraz, 27, tells Health. Leckraz, also known as @yasitskrishy, tried virtually every cream and remedy in search of something to manage her eczema, before realizing they simply didn't work for her.

London-based Leckraz, who is of South Asian descent, often felt ostracized by her family, since her condition left dark patches on her skin. "Because eczema can cause quite a bit of hyperpigmentation, I have patches of different colors of brown everywhere on my body, especially on my neck at the moment," Leckraz says, adding that she naturally has the darkest skin tone in her family. "It's quite hard because especially in my culture, being lighter-skinned is adored. It's what everyone seems to strive for."

Instead of battling eczema in silence, she decided to speak about the skin condition on her personal Instagram community last November—leading to an overwhelmingly positive response. "When I put out my first post talking about it, I just threw my phone away for the day because I was absolutely terrified of what the response could be like," remembers Leckraz. "The response was so great and people were so kind. It's helped me talk more about it, show more of my skin, and [explain] the effects that I've had to go through." And with the positive response came more makeup requests.

After one particularly painful eczema flare-up earlier this month, Leckraz decided to use it for makeup inspiration—creating her own take on the ever-popular "cut crease" look. Her take uses special-effects makeup to mimic the appearance of an eczema flare-up, especially the cuts and scarring the skin condition causes.

The look definitely struck a chord, and she received 60 comments from eczema sufferers who said they can relate. "I would love for people to recognize that we all deserve to be part of the beauty community," says Leckraz. "Our skin doesn't determine who we are or what our skills are."

Through painstaking patience and self-care, Leckraz came up with a skincare routine that keeps her skin calm and smooth, allowing her to still create the makeup looks she loves. But she hasn't been flare-free, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic started. "I've found that stress and anxiety is a big flare for me," says Leckraz. "As soon as I get a little bit worried or anxious, I go straight to scratching."

So she turns to mindfulness practices like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation to help her find her center when she's having a flare. She also looks to the love and care of the eczema community online she found after she went public with her story. "We always share tips and advice with each other—though what works for someone else may not work for others. We're all just looking for something to ease the pain a little bit."

Leckraz wants others dealing with a chronic skin condition to know that they're never alone nor have anything to be ashamed of. "Before, I was so frustrated about not having that representation out there for others with skin like mine, thinking we have to hide because of that," says Leckraz. "I want people to take into account that we all should be included, and there's nothing wrong."

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Every mom could use this mantra.

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Most moms are stressed enough. Add a child's scary and unidentified health condition, and the pressure and anxiety can be extremely difficult. Former Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis understood this stress firsthand when her first child has symptoms of a skin condition, but doctors didn't offer any solid answers.

"One of my mantras is 'to be the best mother I can be,'" Davis tells Health. "One of the best ways I can do that is to listen to my instincts at all times about what is going on with my kids and to speak up for them." When Davis was told that her child's eczema was "just a rash," this mantra helped her trust her gut that something more was going on, and then push for a more definitive diagnosis.

"It was kind of wrecking our lives," Davis says, of the sleep disturbances and uncomfortable itching her child suffered. "I really had to trust myself that I could speak and knew that it was not 'just a rash.'".

After speaking to doctors who realized her child had eczema, she continued to use this mantra to figure out the best course of treatment. "Listening to my instincts in terms of when to speak up has been a blessing for myself," says Davis. "When you have the responsibility of caring for other beings, It’s important to feel the strengths of your convictions."

You can watch the rest of Kristin's mantra in the video above.

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Experts say the acne drug definitely won't give you a "free nose job."

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Accutane has been hailed as a miracle drug for people with severe acne. But a growing number of people on TikTok claim that they also got a "free nose job" from using the medication.

Tiktok-Can-Accutane-Shrink-Your-Nose Tiktok-Can-Accutane-Shrink-Your-Nose
Credit: Getty Images / Photo Illustration by Jo Imperio for Health

Plenty have shared before and after photos of themselves with what they say are more streamlined, shrunken noses. It seems like the whole thing started with Alejandro Vera (@m0ldaviteking_), who told the story of how he mentioned to his sister's boyfriend that she got a free nose job from using Accutane. "Did you know my sisters—both my sisters and I—got free nose jobs back in 2016?" he said. "Yeah, we were on Accutane. That sh*t shrinks your nose."

Cue: Tons of other TikTok users stitching Vera's experience with their own. "Not medical advice but if you wanted a nose job, go on accutane instead!!" said Rooz Divsalar (aka @1rzdd).

Another TikTokker known as @zahlidowdd shared a series of photos of herself over time with a seemingly smaller nose. "It all makes sense now," she said. And according to user @prizzilla, the medication gave her "more than just a skin glow up."

So what's going on here, exactly? Dermatologists weigh in on why you shouldn't sign up for Accutane, just to get a "free nose job."

What is Accutane?

Accutane, aka isotretinoin, is a powerful medication used to treat a particular type of severe acne known as recalcitrant nodular acne, according to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus resource. Patients may be prescribed Accutane when other treatments, like antibiotics, haven't helped. Accutane is a retinoid, and it works by slowing the production of certain natural substances that can cause acne.

Accutane "also shrinks the sebaceous—oil producing—glands," board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics, tells Health.

Accutane is an oral medication, and you take it by mouth twice a day with meals for up to five months at a time.

So, can Accutane shrink your nose?

The short answer: No. "Unfortunately, Accutane cannot actually shrink your nose," Dr. Rodney says.

However, Accutane could, in theory, make your nose look smaller under certain conditions. "Accutane may make the nose look less bulbous because of its effect on the oil glands in that area," Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells Health. "We know that the nose has among the highest concentration and most active oil glands on the body." So, in theory, if you shrink the oil glands in your nose when you're on Accutane, it could make your nose look smaller.

There's this to consider, though, per New York City dermatologist Doris Day, MD: You'd only see a change if you had large, overactive sebaceous glands in the first place. "Most people don't," she tells Health.

And even if you did have overactive sebaceous glands in your nose, Dr. Day says that Accutane isn't going to change the actual shape your nose. "You wouldn't suddenly have a sharper, more sculpted nose," she says. Dr. Rodney agrees, calling the free nose job claims "a bit of an exaggeration." (Accutane has not yet responded to Health's request for comment as of publication.)

Overall, doctors don't recommend going on Accutane in hopes of getting a smaller nose.

"Accutane is my favorite drug for people who are the right candidates, but it has side effects and has to be given carefully and for limited amounts of time," Dr. Day says. "It's not a drug to be taken lightly."

Accutane has a long list of potential side effects, ranging from skin dryness to more serious issues like birth defects. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) specifically lists out the following as potential side effects of Accutane:

  • Dry skin, severely chapped lips
  • Nosebleeds
  • Dry, irritated eyes
  • Dry mouth
  • Extreme sun sensitivity
  • Temporarily worsening acne
  • Trouble seeing at night
  • Thinning hair
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Rash
  • Stomach problems
  • Unhealthy cholesterol levels
  • Liver damage

In pregnant women, the AAD says, Accutane can cause severe birth defects, miscarriage, and stillbirth, which is why people who can get pregnant must take two pregnancy tests before going on the medication and must agree that they will take a monthly pregnancy test and use two forms of birth control while on Accutane.

"There is a very strict program called iPledge where patient, doctor, and pharmacist must all sign off on using the drug, knowing its risks," Dr. Rodney says. "Everyone must agree that the patient is the only one allowed to use Accutane, only at the prescribed dosage." Basically, this is not a medication you can just pick up over the counter and start taking at will.

If you're on Accutane and you noticed a subtle change in your nose—and you wanted it to look different—then you can just credit those shrinking oil glands and call it a day. But otherwise, it's best to skip this hack.

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